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The Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society registered as non-profit organization in 2017. Together with our partners at work in the region we share a passion for the natural beauty, incredible biodiversity, rich cultural heritage, and great sustainable economic potential of Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound.

Our Vision

An Átl'ka7tsem / Howe Sound where humanity and nature thrive

Our Mission

We facilitate and support the organizing and planning of complex activities that bring allegiance to balancing development, conservation, and equity in the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound region.

Our Purpose

Our constitution purposes can be read here.

We pursue three outcomes that seek to overcome key systemic challenges for the region:

Sustainable Development: An overarching, holistic land and marine use plan, mutually recognized and respected by First Nations, civil society, multi-sector stakeholders, and all levels of government. 

Biodiversity Conservation: Needs are understood and defined and measures are in place to ensure the conservation of critical ecological values. 

Reconciliation, Equity & Inclusion: Needs and meaning for the Squamish Nation and all nations and communities in the region are learned and defined collaboratively, and plans for advancement are mutually supported.

Our Values

In our mission, we are guided by the following values and frameworks:

Appreciation: We seek to recognize the best in people and places that surround us, to honour the history, stories and culture of those that came before us, and to value, protect, and celebrate those things that give us life.

Mutual Respect: We are open and adaptive in our interactions across cultural differences, acknowledging that all knowledge systems are validated and equally respected – that no worldview is above another.

Collaboration: We are unwavering in our desire to strengthen relationships and trust among people and communities, working together transparently and with care, to build our collective capacity for the benefit of the entire region.

Creativity: We see the strengths and possibilities in diversity and encourage the sharing of knowledge, ideas, and responsibility to co-create the innovative solutions required to solve our challenges, together.

Guiding Principles for our Governance model.

Frameworks: